The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 11, 2009

Greenbrier hospital sues two physicians

Christian Giggenbach

LEWISBURG — Greenbrier Valley Medical Center has filed separate lawsuits against two out-of-state doctors, alleging both physicians skipped town and broke “recruiting agreements” worth over $100,000.

The hospital named Dr. John Ryan of Na-pervile, Ill., and Dr. Adedayo Mokuolu of Las Vegas as defendants in the separate suits. The hospital retained the Charleston law firm of Flaherty, Sensabaugh & Bonasso as legal representation.

The lawsuit stated that Mokuolu and Ryan entered into “recruiting agreements” with the hospital in January 2004 and April 2006, respectively. Both contracts, signed by the defendants, were included as attachments to the lawsuit.

The lawsuits stated that Mokuolu owes the hospital $25,544 and Ryan owes $83,361,76. The suit alleges both physicians left the hospital on a “leave of absence” and never returned, thus breaching their 48-month contracts with the hospital.

The money owed was paid to the defendants as “sign-on bonuses, relocation expenses and marketing expenses,” the suit stated, which should have been repaid if the doctors left prior to the end of their contracts.

“By the terms of said recruiting agreement, the (defendants) agreed to maintain active medical staff membership and privileges at Greenbrier Valley and engage in the full-time practice of medicine in the Ronceverte ... community.” the lawsuit stated. “Greenbrier Valley has previously requested that (defendants) discharge (their) obligations but have refused to do so.

The suit alleges Mo-kuolu left on Feb. 4, 2008, and Ryan left the area on June 1, 2007.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com

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